Roaming

Gr 9 Up–A coming-of-age graphic novel focused on the first-time experiences of a trio of emerging adults. The narrative follows two college friends who reunite for a spring break week to explore New York City, and what happens when a third wheel joins them and then takes center stage. Through old friends Dani and Zoe, who are each beginning to sketch their individuality, and in Dani’s tag-along yet domineering classmate Fiona, the award-winning Tamaki cousins have portrayed a group of believably complex and nuanced characters. As the three students clumsily navigate a 2009-era New York City, readers have a front row seat to their self-discovery. Dani and Zoe’s need for each other’s friendship butts against their need for independence and growth, and Zoe and Fiona’s budding romance and Fiona’s contrarian nature provide sources of tension within the narrative. As the three sight-see, visit museums, and hang out at their hostel, a two-color palette is effectively used to draw readers into the details. The feelings and experiences of the three students are instantly relatable, and their story is shared with a simple authenticity.